Fountain pen



G. C. SMITH FOUNTAIN PEN June 4, 1946.

Filed- June 3, 194.4;`

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theI left-hand end of Fig.,1;

Patented June 4, 1946 'UNITED STATES `FOUN'I'ALN PEN l Grover C. Smith, Chicago, Ill. Application June 3, 1944, serial No. 538,645`

` 9 Claims. n

1 My invention relates to fountain pens, and more particularly to those of the capless type,` and one of my objects is to provide a pen of this type` which is extensible, by a simple movement, from a concealed position to anoperative one.

A further object of the invention is to include vide a simple filling control in the rear end of the pen and operative only when the same is in the advanced position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple locking device effective to maintain the peri either inthe advanced or the retracted position.

An important object of the invention is to con` struct the novel pen along lines of simplicity and economy, in order that the same may be produced at reasonable cost and maintained without appreciable need of attention or repair.

With the above objects in view and any others whichmay suggest themselves from the description to follow, a betterV understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved pen;

Fig. 2 is a view of its forward end as seen from Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig'. 1,` showing the pen in the retracted or normal position; d

Fig. 4 is similar view with the rear portion of the pen added, and showing the pen in the advanced or .operative position; and

Figs, 5 to 8 are, respectively, sections on the lines 5-5, 6 8, 1-1 and 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Referring specifically to the drawing, l5 denotes the barrel of the fountain pen, and the same may be plain or with any-external or ornamental eifects to suit styles or requirements.` The barrel receives a cap-like control I6 at the rear, but no cap at 'its front end, such end being a wall I1 integral with the barrel and directed on a bias.

The stock of the penis indicated at I8, and the same is reduced at I9 `before terminating with the nib and feed 2i. At the rear, thestook `I8 has a reduction 22 which terminates `witha rubber sac 23. The assembly of the stock, nib, sac, etc. is `fundamentally standard, but the stock is 5 made with special formations suitable for the present invention. One of these is a biased front edge 24, which enables the stock to make a sealed joint with the front end wall |"I of the barrel when the pen is inthe advanced position of Fis. 4. Another is a fiat bottom 25 for the extension I9. The barrel wall I'Imfis madewith a lD-shaped opening 26 which the extension` I9 fits slidably as it` advances, the particularformation preventing i the stock from turning in the barrel. Another formation isa reduction 21 fromthebottom surface of the stock, this being to clear :a mechanism which will presently be described.

The movement of the stock assembly from the rear to the advanced position is procured by the longitudinal travel of a control button 28 located over the top of the barrel I5.' The button 28 has a cylindrical shank 29 which is reduced from the sides to a relatively thin neck 30 nextunderneath the button 28; and a spring lever 3| ex- 25 tends forwardly from the bottom ofthe shank 29 to terminate with a downward bend 32 which is `embedded or otherwise made fast tothe forepart ofthe stock I8. Thus, while Fig'. r3 shows the button 28 at the rear end of its travel, Fig. 4 30 shows that the button has been pushed to the forward end and procured the advance of the stock assembly. i

The travel of the button 28 is made possible by the formation of a narrow longitudinal slot 33 in 35 `the top of the barrel I5, the slot only being wide enough for the sliding travel of the neck 30 of the shank 29. The ends of the slot illareexpanded with circular openings 34, and the spring tension` of the lever 3l is such as `to boostthe shank 29 into lone or the other opening 3l, so that the shank at normal height does notclear the slot 33 in case the `button is moved to carry the shank 29 out of the particular `opening 34. However, whenthe button is depressed, 'the shank 29 will clear the pathfor the advance of the neck 3U into the slot. The feature Just described is therefore a lock for the button at either end of its travel, so that the stock assembly of the pencannot be moved forth or -back unless the button is depressed. A shield 35 is` carried -between the shank 29 and lever 3| in a position next underneath the top of the barrel. The shield 35 is elongated and intended to cover the inside I The shield is supported by the corner of the lever 3l with the button shank 23 and undergoes a slight and negligible movement when the button is depressed.

As was previously mentioned, the front end of the barrel I5 is designed to be closed when the pen is in the retracted position, and the closure is in the form of a door 36 pivoted near the front end of a base strip 31 located in the bottom of the barrel I5. In order that the door 36 may be kept in the normally closed position, a rocker arm 38 pivoted at 39 to the base strip is "boosted -by a leafspring 40 to bear against the inner face of the door/36 as shown in Fig. 3, whereby. to keep the door firmly closed against the inner side of the barrel wall I1. However, when the stock assembly I8 is to be advanced, a lever 4I is actuated to operate the arm 38 in a manner to release and open the door 36.

Thus, the lever 4I is also pivoted at 42 to the base strip 31. The rear end of the `lever is made with a downbend 43 functioning as a cam in respect to the lower front end of the stock I8, so that when the latter isf/advanced it rides over the cam and causes the lever to rock in a'clockwise direction. The front end of the lever 4I is located next underneath a tail portion '44 'of the arm 38, so that the rockingr of the lever as just mentioned serves to rock the arm y38 in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus, the effect of this action is to first release the proplike support ofthe arm 38 from the door 36; and the further rocking of the said arm engages' its forward end with an inward spur 45 of the door to bear on the same and accomplish the full downswing of the door as indicated in Fig. 4. It is now apparent that the bottom cut-out 21 of the stock'is provided to allow suilicient room for Ithe mechanism just described; and it goes without saying that on the retraction of the stock the spring 40 acts to restore the parts of the mechanism to their original positions, closing the door 36.

-Means are provided for lling the sac V23 by imparting pressure to the same from the side. The element for this purpose is a long wire crank 46 which is situated alongside the sac as indicated in Figs. 3 and 6, the arms 41 of the crank being bowed to suit the curvature of the sac, as indicated in the latter gure. One end of the crank base 48 is journaled in a sleeve or other receptacle 49 carried by the -base strip 31, while the rear portion 50 of the said base passes through an opening 5I in a disc 52 mounted in the rear end of the barrel I5 to enter the rear cap I6. Here the base is formed with an end crank 53 as a terminal, such end crank passing through a radial slot 54.made in a disc 55 carried by the cap I6. The latter is mounted on the rear end of the barrel with a lap-joint 56, and is rotatable in respect to the barrel. Thus, when the cap I6 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 8" to swing the end crank 53 from the full-line to the dotted-line position, the same motion will be taken by the main crank 46 with the effect of compressing the-sac 23. The slot 54 is of a depth to allow for clearance for the crank 53 to allow the turning axis of the cap I6 in respect to the pivot 48-50 of the crank 46.

Means are `provided for retaining the end cap I6 to the barrel at all times, as it is not necessary to remove such end cap for anylpurpose. The means referred to consist mainly of a spring wire spider 51 whose inner portions 58 are slidably l spider has a number of equidistant terminal loops 6I which pass through openings 62 in the Wall of the barrel I5 to enter an annular groove 63 in the wall of the cap I6. The loops thus `form retainers against the retraction of the cap.

It is necessary to station the cap against turning accidentally, as for it to do so would impose pressure on the sac 23 and cause ink to leak from the nib 20. Thus, Fig. 1 shows that the cap I6 is formed with a tongue 64 to fit a notch 65 in the rear end of the barrel I5, this joint locking the cap against rotation. However, the cap may be drawn rearwardly to open the joint and en able the cap to be turned. Fig. 4 shows the cap so drawn, imposing tension on one of the spider loops 62. It follows that, after the cap has been turned to accomplish the lling operation of the pen and released, the pressure of the spider loop 62 will cause the cap to snap back into the locked position in respect to the joint 64-65 when the cap is again turned back.

It is noted in Figs. 5 and 6 that the base strip 31 is formed with curved sides 66 to seat the stock I8 and sac 23 more evenly; and the sides of the strip terminate with outward ledges 61 to prevent the edges of the strip from imposing cutting or other injurious influences `on the sac. To secure the bas'e strip in the barrel, the front end of the stripis reduced at 31a from the sides and lodged in a groove I1a at the bottom of the wall I'I, while the rear end of the strip is reduced at 31b and tted in a slot 52a in thebottom of the disc 52. It is further noted that the crank 46 extends sufficientlyV forward to be alongside the stock I8 when the latter is in the Yretracted position. Thus, the stock forms an abutment to lock the crank against inward movement, so that the rear cap I6 cannot be turned to'compress the sac when the pen is in the retracted or confined position,

It will be evident from .the above description that the improved pen has'a number of advantageous features. First, itl is a compact and closed article in a single pieceA requiring nothing to be added or taken olf for its use. Further, the barrel contains an automatic closure to keep dust or other foreign matter out of it when the pen is in the enclosed or retracted position. Further, the pen stock accomplishes a firm seal, so that the accidental flooding of the nib or feed and consequent running of ink onto the stock will iind no way for the ink to enter the barrel and clog the same. Further, the penis advanced and retracted by a simple external control which becomes automatically locked at either end of its travel, Further, a simple expedient ,is employed to compress the ink sac by a partialy turn'of the rear cap I6. Further, the controls` for the door 36 and the crank 46 constituteautomatic features to keep the pen closed and the sac 23 from being collapsed. Finally, as a capless pen, the novel embodiment is an assembly of simple parts which cooperate to serve with easeand efficiency.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minor changes or refinements may be made therein without' departing from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ such changes and refinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim: l i Y l. A fountain pen comprising a barrel having a front end wall formed with a non-circular opening, a. pen assembly in the barrel, andnieans to advance the assembly to project its forepart through said opening, said forepart having a contour similar to the form of the opening to render themassembly non-rotatable in relation to the barrel.

2. A fountain pen comprising a barrel having a front end wall formed with a D-shaped opening, a pen assembly in the barrel, and means to advance the assembly to project its forepart through said openingl said forepart also being D-shaped in cross-section to tit said opening and render the assembly non-rotatable in relation to the barrel.

3. A fountain pen comprising a barrel having a iront end wall formed with an opening, a hinged door closing said opening from the inside, a pen-assembly in the barrel, means to advance the assembly to project the pen through' said opening when the door is open, and means to swing the door open when the advancing movement of the assembly is initiated.

4. A fountain pen comprising a barrel having a front end wall formed with an opening, a hinged door closing said opening from the inside, a pen-assembly in the barrel, means to advance ,the assembly to project the pen through said opening when the door is open, and second means actuated by the assembly to swing the door open when the advancing movement of the assembly is initiated.

5. 'I'he structure of` claim 4, said second means including a hinged lever extended to the door as a prop, a spring to maintain the lever in the engaging position, a tail portion for the lever beyond the hinge, and an element bearing on the tail portion on the advance of the assembly to swing the lever in thedisengaging direction to release the door.

6. The structure of claim 4, said second means including a hinged lever extended to the door as a prop, the door being hinged at the bottom and rearwardly tilted when closed, a spring to maintain the lever in the engaging position. a tail portion for th'e lever beyond the hinge, and an element bearing on the tail portion when the assembly is advanced to swing the lever in the disengaging direction to release the door.

7. The structure of claim 4, said second means comprising a hinged lever extended to the door as a prop, the door being hinged at the bottom and rearwardly tilted when` closed, a rearward spur from the hinged portion o! the door, a spring to maintain the lever in the engaging position, `a tail portion for the lever beyond the hinge, and an element bearing on the tail portion when the assembly is advanced to swing the lever downwardly to become disengaged from the door and to bear on said spur with the eiect of backing the door to a horizontalposition, whereby to clear the path for the advance of the assembly.

8. A fountain pen comprising a ban-e1 having a longitudinal opening in its wall, a pen-assembly in the barrel, and means controlled by way of said opening to advance the assembly to project the pen from one end of the barrel and retain the assembly at either end of its travel, said means comprising an external button, a lever secured with one end to said assembly and the other end to said button, the lever being outwardly tensioned to maintain the button in a projected position from the barrel, and other means to lock the button from travel in said opening until the button is depressed at either end of the latter.

9. A fountain pen comprising a barrel having a longitudinal slot in its wall formed with terminal enlarged openings, a pen assembly in the barrel, a control button outside the latter and having a shank passing through one of said openings, a lever connected with one end to said assembly and with the other to the inner end of said shank, a neck between the latter and the button head of a width to clear the slot when the button is moved from its related opening toward the other, said lever being outwardly tensioned to normally lodge the shank as a bar to the related end of the slot. and the button being depressible against the tension of said lever whereby to aline said neck with the slot and permit the button to be pushed from its related opening toward the other, moving said assembly accordingly.

, t GROVER C. SMITH. 

